Friday marks Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day in Moose Jaw and around the world. 

According to CanFASD, about 1.4 million or four per cent of Canadians have FASD. FASD is a cognitive disability that is generally a result of alcohol use during pregnancy. 

Shannon Gray, cognitive disability strategy consultant for south central Saskatchewan, says trying to diagnose FASD can be difficult. 

“You need confirmation that alcohol is used during pregnancy and that's not always readily available for some people and also it can be a challenge to recognize that you need to seek help or that you may have a diagnosis,” Gray said. 

Gray shared a little bit about what FASD is. 

“FASD is a lifelong disability. Individuals with FASD will experience some degree of challenges in their daily living and need support with motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation and social skills to reach their full potential,” she said. 

To support FASD Awareness Day, Mac the Moose and the clocktower at City Hall will be lit up in red. Residents are also being encouraged to wear red shoes, or wear a red piece of clothing, and share it on social media using the hashtag #RedShoesRock. 

More information about FASD can be found at CanFASD, The FASD Network of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute and the Regional Kinds First South Central Facebook page.